The Wa Wa Shrine pipe band was formed as one of the units of the local Shrine, and they started with some pipers and drummers who had been part of bands in Regina for a long time. Pipe Major Duncan Fisher had been a member of the 12th Signals and the 10th Field Regiment, and he built the Shrine Pipe Band into the best unit of its kind in North America.

The band has performed at functions throughout Saskatchewan: parades, festivals, and many community events. For many years the band was instrumental in organizing the Regina Highland Games, and they helped build the foundation for the event that continues today. Many of the band members have taught piping and drumming for years, and also helped with the organization of pipe bands and other events.

In the mid-1960s a well-known piper from Moose Jaw started a small school of piping and drumming in Moose Jaw. Jim McWilliams had trained as a piper in the Canadian army, and had an appreciation for the benefits of piping schools, and with the help of Hugh Scott of Moose Jaw, set about starting a small summer program.

At about the same time, the Government of Saskatchewan had decided to turn the old Tuberculosis Sanatorium—Fort San— in the Qu’Appelle Valley into a summer school of the arts. In 1967, The Saskatchewan Summer School of the Arts had its first piping and drumming session at the new facility, and it was a great hit.

In the years that followed, a lot of work was done to ensure that local students would receive a rounded education in piping and drumming. The school set up a series of certificate exams based on the requirements of the famous Army School of Piping in Edinburgh, and these certificate levels stood as the basis of instruction for many years at the school.

For the school’s second year, Pipe Major Donald MacLeod was hired. This was the beginning of a long-term relationship with one of the century’s greatest all-round pipers. Donald MacLeod was a legend in his own time. He was a decorated veteran of the war, a multiple winner of every prize offered, a gifted composer of both light music and piobaireachd, and the owner of Grainger and Campbell, one of Scotland’s premier bagpipe makers at the time. It also turned out that he was an inspiring teacher, a recitalist without equal, and a charming, gentle man who related well to everyone he met. Donald MacLeod taught at the school from 1968 to about 1980, and he died suddenly in 1982. For many years, the school’s primary instructor was ex-Shotts lead drummer and Canadian Forces drumming instructor, MWO John Kerr. John Kerr influenced many leading drummers, and he was instrumental in converting prairie drummers to written scores, from the old-fashioned method of “try to play what I do." John was extremely forceful in his views that drummers should be “musicians first,” and his direction at the school helped to formulate many of our best musicians on drums.

In the mid-1980s, the Government of Saskatchewan responded to budget pressures by cutting a number of programs and services in the province, including arts subsidies and maintenance of the Fort San facility. The arts community scattered to find other venues for the school, and for a couple of years the Piping and Drumming School was held in Saskatoon. The school operated in Saskatoon for a couple of years with mostly local instructors, and then stopped operations for about three years.

In 1994, the Saskatchewan Pipe Band Association decided to re-establish a summer school program, and had several successful sessions in its current location in Regina. Following 2002, the instructional program was completely redesigned to meet the needs of SPBA members and bands, and also to incorporate more fully modern instructional methods and Institute of Piping curriculum.

L-R: Andy McAnsh, Jim McWilliams, John MacLellan, Angus SpenceIn 1967, the school was held at the Fort San facility for the first time. Capt. John A. MacLellan was a visitor to the camp for a couple of days. In those days, the school was 14 days long, and the Capt. was there long enough to play a recital, teach some tunes, and have a visit with instructors.

The Saskatchewan Summer School of the Arts, 1974In this photo are P/M Donald MacLeod, MBE and the well-known Shotts drummer Bert Barr. Also here are John Fisher (L/D of City of Victoria/member of Shotts corps, and well-known drummer and instructor; Garth Neel, winner of the Marches at Inverness in the 1970s; Dave Hennigan, member of City of Victoria Pipe Band; Iain MacDonald, member of Babcock-Renfrew PB and SFU Pipe Band, now City of Regina PB; Roland Reid, member of McNish Distillery corps under John Kerr, later won the Worlds with SFU; Jimmy Walker, member and later L/D of Dysart & Dundonald; Graham Neill, P/M of Edmonton Caledonian; Dave McNicholl, originally from Winnipeg, was the first L/D of City of Victoria PB; Barbara (McDougall) MacDonald, member of SFU Pipe Band, now CRPB.

Alexandrina Miller of Penticton, BC writes:Jock Chalmer's original pipe band in Weyburn. He taught many moreplayers for years. John Abel [BC] is the only one of this group still alive.William MacDonald is my brother. He was in Cranbrook and Victoria, BC pipe bands until his death.